Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and San Marcos, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and San Marcos, TX

😐 Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 35.3% more expensive than San Marcos, TX without rent, and 16.3% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 40.9% more expensive than San Marcos, TX without rent, and 22.1% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.82 $20.82

$19.24 $19.24

8.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$69.8 $69.8

43.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.97 $11.97

$9.82 $9.82

21.89%

Cappuccino

$5.56 $5.56

$4.74 $4.74

17.30%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.11 $3.11

$2.86 $2.86

8.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$2.18 $2.18

11.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.86 $6.86

$6.1 $6.1

12.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.45 $8.45

$7.16 $7.16

18.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.95 $0.95

9.47%

White Bread (500g)

$4.15 $4.15

$3.03 $3.03

36.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$3.43 $3.43

60.93%

Eggs

$4.65 $4.65

$3.84 $3.84

21.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 $14.33

$9.64 $9.64

48.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$12.24 $12.24

21.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.34 $19.34

$17.02 $17.02

13.63%

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.08 $4.08

26.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.23 $1.23

39.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.03 $4.03

9.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$2.49 $2.49

81.12%

Potato (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.87 $2.87

-11.85%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.28 $2.28

20.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.85 $1.85

31.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.7 $2.7

$2.18 $2.18

23.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.19 $15.19

$7.89 $7.89

92.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.42 $16.42

$12.15 $12.15

35.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.01 $2.01

16.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.7 $3.7

$3.75 $3.75

-1.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.95 $1.95

29.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.1 $74.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.92 $3.92

-14.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.87 $1.87

-24.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.42 $25.42

$29.57 $29.57

-14.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.77 $0.77

40.26%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$32.4K $32.4K

$32.3K $32.3K

0.49%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.2K $26.2K

$25.8K $25.8K

1.63%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$188 $188

$192 $192

-2.16%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$63.7 $63.7

$62.4 $62.4

2.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.2 $65.2

$66.4 $66.4

-1.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.7 $76.7

$67.7 $67.7

13.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.03 $13.03

Cinema Ticket

$14.93 $14.93

$15.15 $15.15

-1.45%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$2,063 $2,063

$661 $661

211.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.2K $39.2K

$19.2K $19.2K

104.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.3 $64.3

$46.5 $46.5

38.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 $52.4

$45.01 $45.01

16.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 $95.2

$98.8 $98.8

-3.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$122 $122

18.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,378 $2,378

$1,344 $1,344

76.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,584 $1,584

$1,389 $1,389

14.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,763 $4,763

$2,973 $2,973

60.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,815 $2,815

$2,424 $2,424

16.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,588 $3,588

$2,377 $2,377

50.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,490 $2,490

$1,863 $1,863

33.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,275 $5,275

$3,177 $3,177

66.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.44

2.48%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for San Marcos, TX: October 28, 2025

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